Why Me?

By Archie McAllister

WHY AM I RUNNING FOR CVESD SEAT #2?

Many people in the community had previously raised concerns about the composition of the CVESD Board as the four remaining members were from the Bonita zip code, 91902. This was an opportunity for the Board to put those concerns to rest but instead they selected a neighbor, whose wife is the secretary to the Assistant Superintendent, to complete Mayor Cox's term. Instead of allaying the concerns of the community, they amplified them. The Board does not represent the entire community but only the small enclave of Bonita, which contains only 2 out of 44 schools in the District.

I worked on the Petition to ask the County Board of Education (COE) to hold a hearing on the inconsistency of having designated seat numbers without having geographic boundaries in both CVESD and SUHSD. History reveals that then State Senator Steve Peace introduced emergency legislation to save SUHSD from being taken over by the religious right as happened in the North County. By designating the board seats with numbers, the incumbents never had to run against each other as they did in an Open Seating election. Open Seating is where the candidates getting the most votes with the seats. CVESD followed a few years later. There are only three Districts in the State that have designated seat numbers without boundaries SUHSD, CVESD and Santee Elementary. The COE voted 3/2 not to place the Petition on the November ballot.

I have been a member of the CVESD Budget Action Committee for the last two years and President of the Tiffany School Site Council. Two of my grandchildren are students at Tiffany Elementary. I want to make sure that they will be ready for the new standards in Math and English that the State of California will be imposing in the future. I am more connected with CVESD.

I spent 28 years on active duty with the U. S. Navy, working my way up through the ranks. I earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California and graduated with a B.A degree. I have spent the last 14 years as a Substitute Teacher in the SUHSD. I know administrators, teachers, students and issues on a first-hand basis.

I am keenly aware of the issues that confront the Board. I am ready and willing to be YOUR VOICE, a LOUD VOICE, one that will bring a COMMON SENSE ATTITUDE and INTEGRITY to Seat #2.